Vertical lift scaffold



g- 7, 1951 R. J. LAABACK 2,563,682

VERTICAL LIFT SCAFFOLD Filed June 11, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/'g./. Fig.6

Robert J. Laab ack 11w 'EN TOR.

Aug. 7, 1951 R. .1. LAABACK VERTICAL LIFT SCAF'FOLD 3 Sheets-Sheet FiledJune 11, 1948 5% 5'4 E E l 58 70 Fig.9.

% Zfl/A 2% Robert J. Laaback INVE.-\TOR.

(Wang 3% Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERTICAL LIFTSCAFFOLD Robert J. Laaback, Everett, Wash.

Application June 11, 1948, Serial No. 32,400

2 Claims.

1 This invention relates generally to scaffolds, and more particularlyto that type of scaffolds used by builders, painters and others andhaving a tower disposable vertically adjacent one wall of a building,and a vertically shiftable cage.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a scaffold structurewhich is adaptable for use in connection with Work on either relativelysmall buildings, as well as tall buildings, the tower provided by thisinvention being sectioned and the cage being capable of traveling fromone section to tlieother, when more than one section is used.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved cagestructure in which the cage is constructed in two complementary parts orsections, securable together upon the tower, after the latter has beensecured in position, thus facilitating the assembly of the scaffoldstructure into operative position.

Still another object of this invention is toprovide a scaffold structurein which the tower is adjustable within limits vertically.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a guide framestructure for a cage for use with a scaffold tower, which guide frame isof very simple design and light weight but which will positively preventtilting of the scaffold cage.

And the last object to be mentioned specifically is to provide ascaffold structure which is relatively inexpensive and practicable tomanufacture, which is very safe and convenient to erect, use anddisassemble, which is sectionalized both as to the tower and the cageper se, so that the transportation of the scaffold on one site toanother is simplified, and which give generally efiicient and durableservice.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in theaccompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational viewof this scaffold structure inoperative position as related to Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentaryvertical sectional View, taken on the line 55 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line6-6 in Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the foot assembly of thetower, the view being elevational and fragmentary in character;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view, taken through the footassembly, on the line 8*8, in Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the lower block ofthe-block and tackle assembly and means for securing the same to thecage.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the severalviews in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the environment wherewith thisinvention is adapted to be used is illustrated by a building having awall Ill and a cornice l2, and briefly stated this invention may beconsidered as comprising a sectioned tower having a base sectionindicated generally at I4 in Figure 1 and having a foot assembly l6,intermediate sections was required, and a top section 20 carrying theupper block 22 of a block and tackle system, together with a cage 24vertically slidably mounted on the tower and having the lower block 26of the system secured to this cage.

The'top section 20 will be secured against swaying by any suitable meansof conventional character diagrammatically represented in Figures 1 and2 as including a horizontal member or members 28 secured to the section20 and vertical members 3!! and 32, one or both of which may beadjustable to engage the cornice [2, the exact form of thisstructurebein dictated by the character of the building and adapted according'toto individual preferment and mechanical expediency.

The base section 14 and foot assembly I6 are not separable and includevertical tubular standards 34, connected as by welding to a frame 36constructed of angle bars and shown to advantage in Figures 5 and 6. Thehorizontal flanges of the frame 36 are preferably welded to inclinedangle bars 38 of the foot assembly. These bars 38 converge downwardlyand are integrated with a nut '40 which receives the threade-dshank 42,and the latter is provided with a hand wheel 44 andan axial member 46adapted to rest on the ground or pavement at the base of the building,suitable planks or other means being used to prevent penetration of themember 46 into the supporting surface, when necessary. The upper ends ofthe standards 34 are joined together by a frame 48 similar to the anglebar frames 48 which are shown in detail 3 in Figure 5. These frames arewelded to the upper ends of the standards 34 and to both ends of thestandards 34 of each section I8 and 28. Bolts 50 are used to secure theframe 48 to the lowermost frame 48 and to secure adjacent frames 48together.

A top plate 52, secured to the upper ends of the standards in the topsection 29, is used to support the top block 22, while the other block26 is secured by its hook 54 to a bar 56' bolted as at 58 to the cage 24which will be described immediately below, and a cable 68 is operativelyengaged with said blocks, the cable being illustrated in untautenedposition in the drawings with the free end indicated at 60, in theinterest of clarity of representation.

' lated structure 18 should also be welded to floor reinforcing members80 and 82 which are used to box the frame sections 19, further floorreinforcing members 84, indicated in Figure 3, being terminally securedto the lower railing section 64 and to the members 80. The adjacent endsof the reticulated rod or wire members 78 of each section of the cageare joined by reinforcing rod members 86.

Corner vertical angle bars 88 have their upper terminals secured to andbetween the cage frame sections 70 and the adjacent portions of themembers 80 and 82, and these angle bars 88 depend for rigid connectionto the corners of a very similar frame which may be denoted as a guideframe 90 comprised of inner and outer angle frame bars 92 and 94 havingthe inner and outer sides of the vertical flanges thereof welded to thelower ends of the bars 88.

The guide frame 90 carries anti-friction rollers 96 and similar rollers98 are mounted on the frame sections 70, each of these rollers beingdisposed within diagonal slots suchas those slots in the sections 19indicated to advantage in Figure 4, so to engage the correspondingstandards 34 and 34'. Braces I02 may be added for further connection ofthe guide frame 98 to the cage 24.

The operation of this invention will be clearly understood from aconsideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical detailsthereof, taken in connection with the recitation of objects and thedrawings. In recapitulation, the tower may be raised or lowered slightlyafter erection by means of the hand wheel 44, and the frames 48 and 48',with their attaching bolts 50, allow the use of any desired number ofsections [8 intermediate the lower section [4 and the top section 20.The cable 60 will, of course, be threaded through the blocks 22 and 26and the end 60"of the cable will ordinarily be tied to the cage or tosome fixed structure other than the cage when it is desired to retainthe cage in fixed position, lowering of the cage being accomplishedsimply by slackening the cable end 60' and raising of the cage beingaccomplished by pulling downwardly on this portion of the cable, allaccording to conventional practice and accomplished either by hand or bywinch means. The assembly of the scaffold structure will ordinarily beaccomplished by first establishing the tower in place, whereafter asectioned cage may be assembled on the tower, the sleeves 06 and theplates 12 being the chief means for holding the two sections of the cagetogether in operative position.

Obviously many minor variations may be made in the construction of thevarious details and'the proportionment of the elements of this inventionwithout departure from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, the scope ofthis invention should be limited only as determined by a properinterpretation of the terms used in the subjoined claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is: 7

l. A cage for a vertical lift scaffold vertically divided into twocomplementary sections securable together in operative position onopposite sides of a tower, whereby the assembly of the scaffold upon atower in position is facilitated, said cage including top and lowerrailing sections and sleeves connecting the sections 'together,horizontal frame sections defining an open centered rectangle, platesconnecting said frame sections together, corner vertical membersconnecting the top and lower railings in said railing sections, floorsections secured to said lower railing sections and said frame sections,vertical members having their upper ends secured to said frame sections,guide frame sections similar to said frame sections and secured to thelower ends of said last-mentioned vertical members, and scaffold towerengaging rollers on both frames.

2. A cage for a vertical lift scaffold vertically divided. into twocomplementary sections securable together in operative position onopposite sides of a tower, whereby the assembly of the scaffold upon atower in position is facilitated, said cage including top and lowerrailing sections and sleeves connecting the sections together,horizontal frame sections defining an opencentered rectangle, platesconnecting said frame sections together, corner vertical membersconnecting the top and lower railings in said railing sections, floorsections secured to said lower railing sections and said frame sections,vertical members having their upper ends secured to said frame sections,guide frame sections'similar to said frame sections and secured to thelower ends of said last-mentioned vertical members, and scaffold towerengaging means of anti-friction character on both frames.

ROBERT J. LAABACK.

REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 7

